He told about his suicide plans. "I've found no way out. I'm an addict, sometimes I'm fine but sometimes I go mad. And when the convulsions come I can't even walk."

"But Rodrigo," said the counselor, "there is someone who can heal you."

"Someone who can heal me? But how much will that cost? What do I have to do?"

"Nothing, He already paid at the cross and his name is Jesus!"

Rodrigo Olmedo—drug addict, alcoholic, and convicted felon—on his way to attempt suicide for the third time decided to try Jesus' offer of healing for his sin disease. Just as the counselor said, Jesus healed him and for the past nine years Rodrigo has not touched a drop of alcohol nor taken any kind of drug. God restored him to his wife and three daughters and Rodrigo led them to the Lord.

Ten years ago Rodrigo was approached with the vision of the JESUS Film ministry in Ecuador. "I have been praying for the past few months that God would open the doors for me to share with others what Jesus Christ has done for me," he said without hesitation.

In spite of his sordid background, Rodrigo Olmedo became the national coordinator for the JESUS Film. God has transformed this once desperate sinner into a humble, holy, deeply respected, and effective pastor in the Church of the Nazarene. His passion to see others experience the same dramatic life change has propelled him to lead a ministry which has shown JESUS to nearly 270,000 Ecuadorians. Of those, 60,000 have accepted Jesus as their Savior, and 20,000 have received at least some kind of discipleship contact. Thirty-five organized churches and 100 new church starts testify to the effectiveness of this ministry.

Rodrigo himself was not content to let others handle all the difficult work—the follow-up or discipleship. He became the pastor of a new JESUS Film church plant. Now, as a mature eight-year-old church, they are mothering five other brand new church starts. Four of those have now been organized as well.

Rodrigo has become a tremendous soul winner, often sharing his own stirring personal testimony. His sensitivity to the needs of others has not only opened many opportunities to share Jesus, but he has invested the time in discipling new converts and mentoring new leaders.

Several years ago, Rodrigo trained to use the Evangecube during the Worldwide NYI Third Wave Conference in Quito, Ecuador. He quickly trained all those working in the JESUS Film ministry to use the cube as part of the counseling process with the new converts.

Recently I found Rodrigo sharing the Gospel by way of the Evangecube with the owner of the hotel where we were staying. Unfortunately, as he was drawing the net in the conclusion, the owner was called away to the telephone. Undaunted, Rodrigo shared the cube with the owner's sister and led his 33rd person to the Lord within the year.

Evangelism is a way of life for Rodrigo Olmedo—sharing what Jesus has done for him.

Submitted by Dwight Rich, a missionary in Ecuador.